Street dice, also known as street craps, is the informal version craps. The primary distinctions between street craps and casino craps include the absence of house rules, fewer betting choices, and no house advantage. Street craps is also not regulated by any official gaming commission or government body.
Street craps is a popular game because it’s simple, quick, and doesn’t need a lot of people to play. Plus, it can be really exciting because the outcome is based on chance; you never know what numbers will come up on every dice bounce!
This guide will cover everything you need to know about street craps, including the terminology used in the game, the rules of street craps, betting options, and strategies for winning. We’ll also provide some dos and don’ts to keep in mind when playing. Let’s roll!
Common Terminologies Used In Street Dice Games
Before you play street craps, you should memorize some of the slang or lingo used in the game.
- Shooter: The player who rolls the dice during a round.
- Pass Bets: A type of bet where the player bets on the outcome of the shooter’s first roll, also known as the “come-out roll.”
- Point Bets: A type of bet where a player bets on the number that becomes the point in later rolls of the dice
- Shooter’s Bet: The first bet that the shooter places before beginning to roll the dice.
- Re-Roll: Rolling the dice again because of a bad roll or a player dispute.
- Crap Outs: When a shooter rolls gets a 2, 3, or 12 on their first roll, ending the round.
- Come-Out Roll: The first roll of the dice in a round.
- Point Value: The sum of the two dice after the come-out roll.
- House Rules: The street craps rules that are loosely based on casinos.
Street Dice Rules
Games are very easy to set up. Unlike casino craps, you can play street craps with just a pair of dice, a flat surface, and up to four players. Street craps rules are easy to learn and are very similar to the basic rules used in land-based casinos.
Choosing the Shooter: The game starts by deciding who will roll the dice first. This person is known as the “shooter”. There are no strict street craps rules on how to pick the shooter. It could be as simple as the first person who shows up, or you could take turns.
Place Your Bets: Before the initial roll, the shooter places a bet and chooses between “Pass” and “Don’t Pass”.
If they choose “Pass”, they’re hoping to roll a seven or eleven. For example, if you’re the shooter and you bet $1 on a pass bet and then roll a seven, you win! The game would then start over with a new come-out roll. However, if you roll a two, three, or twelve, you lose your pass bet. If you roll any other number, that number becomes the “point”, and you’ll try to roll that number again before rolling a seven.
If they choose “Don’t Pass”, they’re hoping to roll a two, three, or twelve. These numbers are important because they determine whether the shooter wins or loses right away. For example, if you bet $1 on a don’t pass bet and then roll a two, you win! But if you roll a seven or eleven on the come-out roll, you lose your Don’t Pass bet. If any other number is rolled, it becomes the point, and now you’re hoping to roll a seven before rolling the point number again.
The Come Out Roll: Once the shooter is chosen, they make the initial roll of the dice. This is known as the “come out” roll. This role is important because it sets the stage for the rest of the game.
The Term Point: If the shooter doesn’t win or lose on the come-out roll (by rolling a 7, 11, 2, 3, or 12), then the number rolled becomes the “point”. The game then enters a new phase where the shooter tries to roll that same point number again before rolling a seven.
Side Betting: While all this is happening, other players can place side bets on whether they think the shooter will win or lose. The shooter’s initial bet must be matched by the other players before the game can continue. This adds an extra layer of excitement to the game.
Strictly No Touching: One last rule to remember is that the shooter can’t touch their body parts or fingers while shooting. This might seem like a strange rule, but it’s part of what makes street dice unique.
Street Craps Side Betting Options
Side bets enhance the thrill and stakes of street dice, making the game even more engaging. Players can fully participate in the game even if they don’t roll the dice by wagering on various outcomes of the game.
Brick Bets
The brick bet is another option where you win if you roll a seven or eleven. However, unlike the pass bet, with a brick bet, you lose if you roll a two, three, five, nine, or twelve. So, for example, if you place a $1 brick bet and then roll an eleven, you win! But if you roll a nine, you lose your brick bet.
Three-Dice Celo
In this side bet, the shooter gets three dice, and the player bets on the outcome being a 4, 5, or 6.
The Field
This field side bet is placed on the outcome of the shooter rolling a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. The bet is lost if the shooter gets a 5, 6, 7, or 8.
Winning Street Craps Strategies
Knowing the rules of street craps is not enough to win. Players must also understand the dice probabilities, betting strategies, and other street craps tips. Let’s take a closer look at these strategies:
Martingale Strategy: This is a betting strategy where you double your bet every time you lose. The concept is that once you finally win, you’ll not only recoup all your previous losses but also make a profit matching your initial bet. For example, if you start with a bet of 1 casino crap and lose, you would bet 2 next time. If you lose again, you would bet 4, and so on. Once you win, you go back to betting 1.
D’Alembert Strategy: This is another betting strategy, but instead of doubling your bet when you lose, you only increase it by 1. So if you start with a bet of 1 and lose, you would bet 2 next time. If you lose again, you would bet 3, and so on. Once you win, you decrease your bet by 1.
Paroli Strategy: This is a strategy where you double your bet every time you win. The idea is to take advantage of winning streaks and not risk all your winnings in one unlucky roll.
Practice How to Shoot Dice on the Street: The goal is to throw the dice in an arc with minimal rotation and a consistent dice bounce. You can find many tutorials online that can guide you on how to shoot dice like a pro.
Know the Probabilities: This means understanding how likely each possible outcome is. For example, there’s only one way to roll a 2 or a 12 (two 1s or two 6s), but there are six ways to roll a 7. Knowing these probabilities can help guide your betting strategy.
Play Street Craps in a Trusted Environment: Cheating can be common in street dice games, so it’s important to play with people you trust or in a safe and controlled environment.
The Do’s and Don’ts in Playing Street Craps
Playing street craps can be a fun way to pass the time with friends. It’s important to play responsibly and with a clear understanding of the rules. Here are some key points to keep in mind when playing a street dice game:
What to Do:
- Learn the Game: Make sure you understand how the street craps rules before you start playing.
- Know Your Numbers: Understand the probabilities of each roll to make smarter bets.
- Set a Limit: Decide how much money you’re willing to spend and don’t go over that amount.
- Play Fair: Make sure everyone is playing by the rules to keep the game fun and fair.
What Not to Do:
- Don’t Bet More Than You Can Lose: Play street dice responsibly and do not bet more money than you can afford to lose.
- Don’t Cheat: Cheating ruins the fun of the game and can lead to arguments.
- Don’t Play If You Don’t Understand the Rules: You’re more likely to lose if you don’t understand how the game works.
- Don’t Ignore the Odds: Knowing the odds can help you make better bets and minimize losses.
Conclusion
Street dice is a game that combines luck, skill, and social interaction. It’s a game that can be played anywhere, anytime, and with anyone. It’s important to understand the rules and play responsibly. Whether you’re the shooter rolling the dice or a player betting on the outcome, every roll brings a new round of excitement.
Remember, while there are strategies that can help improve your chances of winning, the outcome of street shooting dice is largely based on luck. So, always play responsibly, know your limits, and most importantly, have fun. After all, the main goal of playing street dice should be to have a good time with friends but you can also learn how to play craps and other dice games with them too.
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